29 



BULLETIN OF 



Massachusetts Board of Agriculture 



PRACTICAL HINTS FOR THE DAIRYMAN. 



By Prof. F. S. Coolet, Mass. Agr'l College, Amherst. 



We have just passed one of the very trying seasons of the year 

 for dairymen. The drying up of pastures, falling off of feed, 

 August heat and flies make an adverse combination hard for the 

 average feeder to meet. But improved management has not 

 entirely ignored the needs of the past months, and we are becoming 

 better and better able to overcome these difficulties. The suc- 

 cessful dairyman finds it very important to prevent the shrinkage 

 in milk, for it is apt to be permanent. Cows that fall off seriously 

 in milk, owing to short feed, rarely regain their former product 

 during the season, even if food is given later in abundance. 



Partial Summer Soiling. 



While the writer is not an enthusiast over the soiling system, 

 having experienced some of its difficulties, he is fully convinced 

 of the necessity of providing some supplementary fodder for milch 

 cows during July and August. Against those who advocate green 

 feed throughout the season as more profitable than pasturage, I 

 have no argument to make. I venture the opinion, however, that 

 the novice will often enviously look at his neighbors' pastures 

 during his first attempt at summer soiling. A good pasture is a 

 great convenience on a dairy farm. Pastures do not, however, 

 produce evenly throughout the season. There is always a surfeit 

 in May and June and a shortage afterward. It is good husbandry 

 to stock pastures heavily so that the early flush of feed may be 

 utilized, as it checks a tendency to " grow wild " that has spoiled 

 so many good pastures. Good husbandry also demands the pro- 

 vision of feed of some sort to eke out the pasture feed in late 

 summer. The best feeders and most successful dairymen feed 



